For more than a decade Monique Lopez has been a social justice planner and policy advocate working on transportation justice, environmental justice, and public space access throughout Southern California. Monique works with communities using planning tools through storytelling and arts-based engagement to dismantle unjust systems and build equitable communities. Their work is rooted in a simple principle: The voices of residents should be respected as experts, and as such, should dictate the planning and design of their community. Monique also brings in this social justice approach and practice into the classroom and teaches graduate level courses at Antioch University (Urban Infrastructure; Democratizing Community Planning) and Cal Poly Pomona (Coalition Building).

They are a certified planner with the American Planning Association and has earned a Master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and a Master’s in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach. They have also earned her Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science with a Minor in Religion from Vanguard University. When Monique is not collaborating or co-creating with community members, they love to spend time with their family traveling and is an avid storyteller.